The Return of the Compact Pickup
Small But Mighty (Again)
We were mid-draft on this very story, writing about the quiet, quirky return of the small pickup, when BOOM, two big players kicked down the garage door.
Toyota says they’re considering a small pickup for the U.S. market. A $13,000 Hilux Champ, perhaps?
Stellantis confirmed plans for a sub-$25K electric truck aimed at America.
Suddenly, this isn’t just a take on a niche trend. This is a movement with momentum. And some serious big-brand muscle is making their interests known.
With Ford’s Maverick proving the market, Telo winning design hearts, and now Toyota and Stellantis getting off the sidelines, the compact truck comeback has officially shifted into gear and out of neutral.
The New Breed: Compact Is Cool Again
Urban parking. Rising fuel prices. Model-T-sized garages. The reasons are piling up, and so are the options. Today’s small trucks aren’t penalty boxes. They’re smart, stylish, and built for real lives.
Ford Maverick
The unibody hybrid that could. With car-like manners, some exciting trim options, true utility, and mileage that makes a Civic do a double-take, the Maverick became an instant hit.
Hyundai Santa Cruz
Part SUV, part truck, and all the funky vibes. The Santa Cruz leans more crossover than workhorse, but it nails the “urban adventure” brief and has quietly built a loyal fanbase.
Toyota’s Global Wildcard: The Hilux Champ
A $13,000, no-nonsense mini-truck built on the IMV 0 platform, currently turning heads in Thailand. It’s rear-wheel drive, manual, and modular enough to be a delivery truck, camper, or taco stand. No touchscreen. No leather. Pure utility.
We’ll likely not get this exact version in America. But it’s a clear signal. Toyota has had success with small trucks in the US once before, and if they bring even a taste of the Champ’s modular, affordable DNA stateside, it’s game on.
Telo: The Tiny Titan
At just 152 inches long (shorter than a two-door Mini) the Telo is somehow packing 500hp, dual motors, crash safety, and a 5-seat layout (in short-bed mode). Want a full 5-foot bed? Fold down the rear cab door and seats. That’s the magic: it’s modular, mighty, and wildly efficient.
Telo is the antidote to the brodozer. It’s built for dense cities, clean air mandates, and surfboard hauls down to El Porto. If they can actually deliver? It’s the most enthusiast-ready compact EV in the game.
Slate
Slate’s chunky, brutalist design has big retro-overland energy. It’s what happens when a Land Cruiser 70 series goes to architecture school. High style, big promise. Now they just need to build the thing.
Stellantis Compact EV
And then Stellantis came through the wall like the Kool-Aid Man. Reports say they’re fast-tracking a sub-$25K electric truck for North America. Think: Ram Rampage goes electric. If they nail price and practicality, this could crush the startup hype cycle and push small EV trucks straight into the mainstream.
Gone But Not Forgotten: Canoo Pickup
RIP to one of the weirdest and most wonderful “what ifs” in the modern EV world. Canoo had space-age looks, NASA contracts, and modular aspirations. But, alas, never delivered. Still, they proved the hunger for compact, cab-forward trucks was real. There was no shortage of disappointment when they announced they were calling it quits.
And Then There’s the… Ridgeline.
Honda’s Ridgeline has quietly been playing the unibody pickup game for years. Comfortable, capable, and criminally overlooked. But it’s midsize in price and footprint, which may price it out of the current wave. Will Honda revive their compact-truck adventures of the 1960s? A 2028 T500? Sign me up!
The Kei Truck Clue
Want proof this movement’s real? Look at the rise of Kei trucks in the U.S. Those 660cc Japanese workhorses that are suddenly showing up at SoCal cars & coffee meets and farmers markets alike.
As of 2025, over 20 states allow Kei trucks on public roads in some form. They’re cheap, weird, and wildly functional. While the new small trucks don’t wear the “Kei” badge, their spirit is the same: minimal footprint, maximum usefulness, and just enough weird to make you smile.
Mini Truck Legacy: The Hall of Fame
Before today’s Maverick, there were these legends:
Toyota Pickup / Hilux
Indestructible. Overlanding icon.Nissan Hardbody
The king of '80s mini-truck culture. Tape stripes and street cred.Ford Courier → Ranger
Mazda roots turned American mainstay. Every dad’s first project truck.Chevy LUV → S-10
Isuzu DNA, Bowtie badge. Boxy greatness.Chevy Colorado (1st Gen)
The 2000s reboot. Never as beloved as the S-10, but in the right hands? A low-key street truck legend.Subaru BRAT
Bed seats, 4WD, and a presidential endorsement.Mazda B-Series / Isuzu Pup / Dodge D50
Badge-engineered charmers.Jeep Comanche
Underrated trail rig with cult classic status.VW Rabbit Pickup
Front-wheel-drive weirdness built in Pennsylvania.
These trucks were cheap, mod-friendly, and fun. Today’s revival owes them everything.
Final Thoughts: Big Future, Small Footprint
This isn’t a blip. It’s a course correction. Big trucks still have their place. I enjoy the sight of an F-350 Super Duty King Ranch Crew Cab as much as the next guy. But for real life in the city? Compact pickups are suddenly cooler, smarter, and more possible than ever.
So whether you’re eyeing a Maverick, manifesting a Telo, or daydreaming about a U.S.-spec Hilux Champ. You’re not alone.
Small is big again.